Good employees don’t leave good companies; they leave managers. The same goes for the NBA. If a team or front office or coach isn’t doing what’s it’s designed to do when it comes to winning championships, that player bolts. To build a champion, you need a solid front office, top to bottom. The Sacramento Kings are on their way to doing that.

When Vivek Ranadive purchased the Kings in May, he was tasked with one thing right off the bat. He had to work hard to clean up the epic toxic spill left by the previous ownership. Ranadive hired Coach Michael Malone before selecting his General Manager Pete D’Alessandro, an unconventional move. Adding a Hall Of Famer could be the finishing touch to a time-constrained patchwork makeover.

According to numerous reports, Chris Mullin will join the Sacramento Kings front office in a senior advisory role with the team. Mullin, who has been an ESPN analyst since 2010, last worked in an NBA front office in 2009 with the Golden State Warriors. Mullin likely will work with and under General Manager Pete D’Alessandro. In a twist, Mullin is now working for his former understudy. D’Alessandro also made his break into management with the Warriors under Mullin.

Chris Mullin was the leading candidate for the Kings manager position early this summer but it was D’Alessandro that wound up earning the position. I was really hoping the Kings would take Mullin but I don’t think there’s any shame in Mullin losing the job, he can still make an impact in his new role. I also think Mullin will work well alongside his former protégé Pete D’Alessandro.

The good rapport between the two executives is key to their working relationship if the Kings want to turn things around. The team has missed the playoffs the last six years while finishing below .500 the last three. I don’t think Ranadive and D’Alessandro have fully realized their game plan, but they have laid a solid foundation that just added a Hall-Of-Famer. It’s a pretty good start.